Canada's NDP

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February 22nd, 2019

Jagmeet Singh: Liberal government must abandon Trans Mountain expansion

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh issued the following statement:

“We are deeply disappointed that the National Energy Board has recommended the approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Despite the finding that the expansion project and the associated increase in marine shipping will have significant negative impacts on Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, on the Southern Resident Killer Whale population and on Indigenous cultural use associated with these whales, the NEB is still in favour of the expansion.

The Federal Court of Appeal was clear that environmental impacts must be considered, but the Liberal government’s haste to push the project through meant that the Board’s hearings on this matter were rushed and limited in scope.

It is unconscionable that the NEB refused to assess the project’s upstream and downstream climate impacts.

At the same time, consultation with Indigenous groups is still ongoing. And despite its repeated promises about consultation, the Liberals insist that the pipeline will be built, raising serious questions about the government’s commitment to truly meaningful consultation and accommodation.

Canadians are already feeling the impacts of climate change. We have to work together and throw everything we have at the problem to reduce emissions and build the low carbon economy we need now.

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government likes to talk about their commitment to tackling climate change. Now is the time to turn those words into action.

Once again, I am calling on the Trudeau government to abandon the Trans Mountain expansion, fully overhaul the NEB review process, and finally live up to its promises that its most important relationship is its relationship with Indigenous Peoples."